The role of TENS therapy in reducing the incidence of post-Caesarean section wound infection.

The occurrence of wound infection following a Caesarean section procedure poses a substantial clinical obstacle. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) has been identified as a promising supplementary treatment option for improving the healing process and decreasing the incidence of infections. This study assessed the efficacy of TENS therapy in the postoperative care of patients who have had Caesarean section. We randomly assigned a total of 108 women who had Caesarean sections to either a TENS group (n = 54) or control (n = 54). The TENS therapy was provided twice daily for a duration of 30 min for the period of 14 days following the surgery. The main measure of interest in this study was the occurrence of wound infection during 30-day period. Additionally, secondary measures included the rate of wound healing, levels of pain experienced and level of patient satisfaction. In comparison to the control (22.2%, p < 0.05), the TENS group had notably reduced occurrence of wound infection, with the rate of 7.4%. TENS group had superior wound healing results, as measured by REEDA scale, at 7 days (2.1 ± 0.8 vs. 2.5 ± 1.0, p < 0.04), 14 days (1.2 ± 0.5 vs. 1.9 ± 0.7, p < 0.05) and 30 days (0.3 ± 0.5 vs. 0.7 ± 0.6, p < 0.05). Furthermore, TENS group had reduced pain levels on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at all evaluation intervals (p < 0.05). TENS group exhibited significantly higher levels of patient satisfaction, as evidenced by 64.8% of participants rating high satisfaction, in contrast to 40.7% in the control group (p < 0.05). The incidence of adverse effects was found to be minor, as indicated by a skin irritation rate of 3.7% and reported discomfort rate of 1.9% at the electrode location. TENS therapy effectively decreased the occurrence of post-Caesarean wound infections, expedited the healing process and enhanced pain control. This treatment was well-received by patients and had little negative consequences. The aforementioned results provided evidence in favour of incorporating TENS into post-Caesarean care regimens, which may have significant consequences for improving patient outcomes and maximizing healthcare resources.

Expert Consensus on the Application of Stem Cells in Psoriasis Research and Clinical Trials.

Psoriasis is an immune-mediated, chronic, relapsing, inflammatory, systemic disease induced by individual-environmental interactions, and is often lifelong because of the difficulty of treatment. In recent years, a variety of targeted therapies, including biologics, have improved the lesions and quality of life of most psoriasis patients, but they still do not address the problem of relapse and may be associated with decreased efficacy or adverse events such as infections over time. Therefore, there is an urgent need for breakthroughs in psoriasis treatment and in relapse-delaying and non-pharmacologic strategies, and stem cell therapy for psoriasis has emerged. In recent years, research on stem cell therapy for psoriasis has received a lot of attention, however, there is no reference standard as well as consensus in this field of research. Therefore, according to the latest consensus and guidelines, combined with relevant literature reports, clinical practice experience and the results of discussions with experts, this consensus specifies the types of stem cells commonly used in the treatment of psoriasis, the methods, dosages, and routes of stem cell therapy for psoriasis, as well as the clinical evaluations (efficacy and safety) of stem cell therapy for psoriasis. In addition, this consensus also provides normative standards for the processes of collection, preparation, preservation and quality control of stem cells and their related products, as well as recommendations for the management of stem cells during infusion for the treatment of psoriasis. This consensus provides the latest specific reference standards and practice guidelines for the field of stem cell therapy for psoriasis.

Metabolomics-based profiling of five Salvia L. (Lamiaceae) species using untargeted data analysis workflow.

INTRODUCTION: The genus Salvia L., a member of the family Lamiaceae, is a keystone genus with a wide range of medicinal properties. It possesses a rich metabolite source that has long been used to treat different disorders. OBJECTIVES: Due to a deficiency of untargeted metabolomic profiling in the genus Salvia, this work attempts to investigate a comprehensive mass spectral library matching, computational data annotations, exclusive biomarkers, specific chemotypes, intraspecific metabolite profile variation, and metabolite enrichment by a case study of five medicinal species of Salvia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Aerial parts of each species were subjected to QTRAP liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis workflow based on untargeted metabolites. A comprehensive and multivariate analysis was acquired on the metabolite dataset utilizing MetaboAnalyst 6.0 and the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) Web Platform. RESULTS: The untargeted approach empowered the identification of 117 metabolites by library matching and 92 nodes annotated by automated matching. A machine learning algorithm as substructural topic modeling, MS2LDA, was further implemented to explore the metabolite substructures, resulting in four Mass2Motifs. The automated library newly discovered a total of 23 metabolites. In addition, 87 verified biomarkers of library matching, 58 biomarkers of GNPS annotations, and 11 specific chemotypes were screened. CONCLUSION: Integrative spectral library matching and automated annotation by the GNPS platform provide comprehensive metabolite profiling through a workflow. In addition, QTRAP LC-MS/MS with multivariate analysis unveiled reliable information about inter and intraspecific levels of differentiation. The rigorous investigation of metabolite profiling presents a large-scale overview and new insights for chemotaxonomy and pharmaceutical studies.

The efficacy and safety of monoclonal antibody therapies for interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of monoclonal antibody therapies (MATs) for interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). METHODS: A systematic search was conducted across databases including PubMed, Embase, clinicalTrial.gov, and the Cochrane Library Central Register of Controlled Trials. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing MATs versus placebo were included. Primary outcomes comprised the Global Response Assessment (GRA) scale and the O'Leary-Sant Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index (ICSI). Additional analyses encompassed mean daily frequency of voids, the O'Leary-Sant Interstitial Cystitis Problem Index, pain scores, and complications. Statistical analyses were performed using Review Manager 5.3. RESULTS: Five high-quality RCTs, comprising 263 patients with IC/BPS, were ultimately selected. MATs were generally effective in treating IC/BPS. Patients receiving MATs exhibited a higher satisfaction rate (odds ratio [OR]: 2.7, confidence interval [CI]: 1.31-5.58, p = 0.007) and lower ICSI scores (mean difference [MD]: -1.44, CI: -2.36 to -0.52, p = 0.002). Moreover, MAT recipients experienced reduced pain (MD: -0.53, CI: -0.79 to -0.26, p < 0.0001) and decreased frequency of urination (MD: -1.91, CI: -2.55 to -1.27, p < 0.00001). Importantly, there were no disparities regarding complication incidence in the MAT and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: The current findings indicate that MATs are effective and safe for treating IC/BPS. Nonetheless, future RCTs with larger sample sizes and long-term follow-up are warranted.

Integrated physiological analyses, transcriptome, and DNA methylation reveal superiority of pear stigma-style complex development regulation.

Styles and stigmas are crucial components of the fertilization process that allows a pear tree to bear fruit. The information regarding the development mechanism of pear style and stigma is still unclear. Our results demonstrated that IAA, ABA, and BR are significantly increased at 1 DBF, while JA is decreased at 5 DBF. The fructose and starch contents significantly increased at 1 DBF when the style with stigma was ready for pollination. Transcriptome and DNA methylation analysis showed 8087 DEGs and 3771 DMRs were enriched in plant hormones biosynthesis, carbohydrate biosynthesis and metabolism, and TFs in 1 DBF as compared with 7 DBF. The CHH methylation type of DMRs accounts for 84.75%. Most DMRs of CHH upregulated in 1 DBF vs. 7 DBF. This study found for the first time that transcription factor ERFs and DNA methylation are involved in regulating the growth and development of fruit plant style and stigma.

Oral microbiota distinguishes patients with osteosarcoma from healthy controls.

Objective: The human microbiota plays a key role in cancer diagnosis, pathogenesis, and treatment. However, osteosarcoma-associated oral microbiota alterations have not yet been unraveled. The aim of this study was to explore the characteristics of oral microbiota in osteosarcoma patients compared to healthy controls, and to identify potential microbiota as a diagnostic tool for osteosarcoma. Methods: The oral microbiota was analyzed in osteosarcoma patients (n = 45) and matched healthy controls (n = 90) using 16S rRNA MiSeq sequencing technology. Results: The microbial richness and diversity of the tongue coat were increased in osteosarcoma patients as estimated by the abundance-based coverage estimator indices, the Chao, and observed operational taxonomy units (OTUs). Principal component analysis delineated that the oral microbial community was significant differences between osteosarcoma patients and healthy controls. 14 genera including Rothia, Halomonas, Rhodococcus, and Granulicatella were remarkably reduced, whereas Alloprevotella, Prevotella, Selenomonas, and Campylobacter were enriched in osteosarcoma. Eventually, the optimal four OTUs were identified to construct a microbial classifier by the random forest model via a fivefold cross-validation, which achieved an area under the curve of 99.44% in the training group (30 osteosarcoma patients versus 60 healthy controls) and 87.33% in the test group (15 osteosarcoma patients versus 30 healthy controls), respectively. Notably, oral microbial markers validated strong diagnostic potential distinguishing osteosarcoma patients from healthy controls. Conclusion: This study comprehensively characterizes the oral microbiota in osteosarcoma and reveals the potential efficacy of oral microbiota-targeted biomarkers as a noninvasive biological diagnostic tool for osteosarcoma.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry imaging reveals the spatial distribution of compounds that may exacerbate inflammation in garden ginseng and ginseng under forest.

Ginseng, a highly esteemed herbal medicine, has been utilized over 5000 years, predominantly in Far Eastern countries. Ginseng is categorized into garden ginseng (GG) and ginseng under forest (FG). However, in contrast to FG, excessive intake of GG may lead to potential adverse effects due to disruption of epithelial cell integrity, and the specific population groups that may be at higher risk. In this work, untargeted metabolomics were used to determine the heterogeneity between GG and FG, the data indicates that the content of Ethyl caffeate, Homoorientin, Citric acid and Quinic acid in GG were higher than in FG. Mass spectrometry imaging showed that ethyl caffeate and Homoorientin were concentrated on the brownish yellow exocarp of the primary root. Our experiments demonstrated that excessive exposure to ethyl caffeate and Homoorientin exacerbated the inflammatory response of HUVECs and reduced the expression of cell junctions. This suggest that the compounds causing adverse effects from excessive intake of GG are mainly concentrated in the yellow exocarp of the primary root of GG. These results suggest that untargeted metabolomics coupled with MALDI-MSI can visualize the spatial distribution of endogenous differential molecules of the same herb in different growth environments or developmental stages.

To explore the protective effect of gastrodin on PC12 cells against oxidative stress induced by lead acetate based on network pharmacology.

Objective: Screening and predicting potential targets for gastrodin antioxidant stress based on network pharmacology methods, and exploring the effect of gastrodin on lead acetate induced oxidative stress in PC12 cells through cell experiments. Methods: Through the Pharmaper database Predict the target of action of gastrodin. Through OMIM and GeneCards to collect oxidative stress targets from database, and intersect with drug targets to obtain drug disease intersection targets; Construct a PPI network diagram using the STRING database. Perform GO enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis on intersection targets through the DAVID platform. Lead acetate (PbAc) exposure was used to establish a lead poisoning cell model, and intracellular ROS levels, ALB, AKT1, and Caspase-3 levels were measured. Results: A total of 288 targets of gastrodin action, 638 targets related to oxidative stress, and 62 drug disease intersection targets were obtained, among which core targets such as ALB, AKT1, CASP3 may be closely related to oxidative stress. KEGG pathway analysis showed that gastrodin antioxidant stress mainly involved in lipid, cancer pathway and other signaling pathways. The results of the cell experiment showed that 50 µM is the optimal effective concentration for PbAc induced ROS production in PC12 cells. Gastrodin significantly increased the ROS content of PC12 cells treated with PbAc, Upregulation of ALB expression and downregulation of AKT1 and CASP3 expression. Conclusions: Gastrodin may alleviate PbAc-induced ROS in PC12 cells, indicating potential protective effects against oxidative stress. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms.

Screening of active components of Ganoderma lucidum and decipher its molecular mechanism to improve learning and memory disorders.

Learning and memory impairment (LMI), a common degenerative central nervous system disease. Recently, more and more studies have shown that Ganoderma lucidum (GL) can improve the symptoms of LMI. The active ingredients in GL and their corresponding targets were screened through TCMSP (Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform) and BATMAN-TCM (Bioinformatics Analysis Tool for Molecular Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine) databases, and the potential LMI targets were searched for through GeneCard (GeneCards Human Gene Database) and DrugBank. Then, we construct a "main active ingredient-target" network and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network diagram.The GO (Gene Ontology) functional enrichment analysis and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathway annotation analysis were performed on the common targets through DAVID (Database for Annotation Visualization and Integrated Discovery) to clarify the potential molecular mechanism of action of active ingredients in GL. The TNF protein was verified by western blot;Twenty one active ingredients in GL and 142 corresponding targets  were screened out, including 59 targets shared with LMI. The 448 biological processes shown by the GO functional annotation results and 55 signal pathways shown by KEGG enrichment analysis were related to the improvement of LMI by GL, among which the correlation of Alzheimer disease pathway is the highest, and TNF was the most important protein; TNF can improve LMI.GL can improve LMI mainly by 10 active ingredients in it, and they may play a role by regulating Alzheimer disease pathway and TNF protein.

High-Throughput Screening Strategy for Electrocatalysts for Selective Catalytic Oxidation of Formaldehyde to Formic Acid.

Electrocatalytic oxidation of formaldehyde (FOR) is an effective way to prevent the damage caused by formaldehyde and produce high-value products. A screening strategy of a single-layer MnO2-supported transition metal catalyst for the selective oxidation of formaldehyde to formic acid was designed by high-throughput density functional calculation. N-MnO2@Cu and MnO2@Cu are predicted to be potential FOR electrocatalysts with potential-limiting steps (PDS) of 0.008 and -0.009 eV, respectively. Electronic structure analysis of single-atom catalysts (SACs) shows that single-layer MnO2 can regulate the spin density of loaded transition metal and thus regulate the adsorption of HCHO (Ead), and Ead is volcanically distributed with the magnetic moment descriptor -|mM - mH|. In addition, the formula quantifies Ead and |mM - mH| to construct a volcano-type descriptor α describing the PDS [ΔG(*CHO)]. Other electronic and structural properties of SACs and α are used as input features for the GBR method to construct machine learning models predicting the PDS (R2 = 0.97). This study hopes to provide some insights into FOR electrocatalysts.

Activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) alleviates depressive-like behaviors in LPS-induced mice.

The role of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in regulating oxidative stress and immune responses has been increasingly recognized. However, its involvement in depression and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the effect of 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ), an endogenous AhR ligand, on a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depression model and the underlying mechanism. After being treated with FICZ (50 mg/kg), male C57BL/6J mice received intraperitoneal injection of LPS and underwent behavioral tests 24 h later. The levels of inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α, were measured in the hippocampus and serum using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression levels of CYP1A1, AhR and NLRP3 were analyzed using qPCR and Western blot. The results showed that, compared with control group, LPS alone significantly down-regulated the expression levels of CYP1A1 mRNA and AhR protein in the hippocampus of mice, reduced glucose preference, prolonged immobility time in forced swimming test, increased IL-6 and IL-1ß levels in the hippocampus, increased serum IL-1ß level, and up-regulated NLRP3 mRNA and protein expression levels in mouse hippocampus, while FICZ significantly reversed the aforementioned effects of LPS. These findings suggest that AhR activation attenuates the inflammatory response associated with depression and modulates the expression of NLRP3. The present study provides novel insights into the role of AhR in the development of depression, and presents AhR as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of depression.

Quercetin induces ferroptosis by inactivating mTOR/S6KP70 pathway in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Although recent studies increasingly suggest the potential anti-cancer effect of quercetin, the exact underlying mechanism remains poorly demonstrated in oral squamous cell carcinoma (oSCC). Therefore, our research explored the impacts of quercetin on the ferroptosis and mTOR/S6KP70 axis in oSCC cell lines. After treating oSCC cells with quercetin or indicated compounds and transfection with SLC7A11- or S6KP70-overexpressing plasmid, cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay. The level of ferroptosis in oSCC cells was assessed by measuring ROS and GSH levels. The activation of mTOR/S6KP70 axis was assessed by Western blotting. Quercetin promoted ferroptosis in an mTOR/S6KP70-dependent manner to inhibit tumor growth in oSCC cells. Mechanistically, we revealed that quercetin induced lipid peroxidation and reduced GSH levels by repressing SLC7A11 expression in oSCC cells. Specifically, the effects of quercetin on ferroptosis and mTOR and S6KP70 phosphorylation were partially blocked by both mTOR agonist and S6KP70 overexpression. Moreover, mTOR inhibitor promoted ferroptosis in quercetin-treated oSCC cells. Our findings showed that ferroptosis may be a new anti-tumor mechanism of quercetin. Additionally, we identified that quercetin can target mTOR/S6KP70 cascade to inhibit the growth of oSCC cells.

Electroacupuncture modulates abnormal brain connectivity after ischemia reperfusion injury in rats: A graph theory-based approach.

BACKGROUND: Electroacupuncture (EA) has been shown to facilitate brain plasticity-related functional recovery following ischemic stroke. The functional magnetic resonance imaging technique can be used to determine the range and mode of brain activation. After stroke, EA has been shown to alter brain connectivity, whereas EA's effect on brain network topology properties remains unclear. An evaluation of EA's effects on global and nodal topological properties in rats with ischemia reperfusion was conducted in this study. METHODS AND RESULTS: There were three groups of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats: sham-operated group (sham group), middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) group, and MCAO/R plus EA (MCAO/R + EA) group. The differences in global and nodal topological properties, including shortest path length, global efficiency, local efficiency, small-worldness index, betweenness centrality (BC), and degree centrality (DC) were estimated. Graphical network analyses revealed that, as compared with the sham group, the MCAO/R group demonstrated a decrease in BC value in the right ventral hippocampus and increased BC in the right substantia nigra, accompanied by increased DC in the left nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh). The BC was increased in the right hippocampus ventral and decreased in the right substantia nigra after EA intervention, and MCAO/R + EA resulted in a decreased DC in left AcbSh compared to MCAO/R. CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide a potential basis for EA to promote cognitive and motor function recovery after ischemic stroke.

A Porphyrin-Based 3D Metal-Organic Framework Featuring [Cu8Cl6]10+ Cluster Secondary Building Units: Synthesis, Structure Elucidation, Anion Exchange, and Peroxidase-Like Activity.

Herein, we report a rare example of cationic three-dimensional (3D) metal-organic framework (MOF) of [Cu5Cl3(TMPP)]Cl5 ⋅ xSol (denoted as Cu-TMPP; H2TMPP=meso-tetrakis (6-methylpyridin-3-yl) porphyrin; xSol=encapsulated solvates) supported by [Cu8Cl6]10+ cluster secondary building units (SBUs) wherein the eight faces of the Cl--based octahedron are capped by eight Cu2+. Surface-area analysis indicated that Cu-TMPP features a mesoporous structure and its solvate-like Cl- counterions can be exchanged by BF4 -, PF6 -, and NO3 -. The polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) coated Cu-TMPP (denoted as Cu-TMPP-PVP) demonstrated good ROS generating ability, producing ⋅OH in the absence of light (peroxidase-like activity) and 1O2 on light irradiation (650 nm; 25 mW cm-2). This work highlights the potential of Cu-TMPP as a functional carrier of anionic guests such as drugs, for the combination therapy of cancer and other diseases.

A Case of a Eustachian Tube Hairy Polyp Misdiagnosed as an Adenoid Residual in a Child.

Hairy polyps, considered a highly unusual congenital anomaly of the pharynx, are believed by many scholars to arise from the ectoderm and mesoderm during the embryonic stage. These growths often have a pear or sausage shape, are pedunculated, and their size ranges between 0.5 and 6 cm. They are typically grayish white or pink in color. This article discusses a 12-year-old female who had a growth at the Eustachian tube's entrance on the left side of the nasopharyngeal wall, as identified by a computed tomography scan of the neck soft tissue; it was suspected to be a hairy polyp originating from the left Eustachian tube. The diagnosis of a hairy polyp was confirmed through pathology. The hairy polyp at the Eustachian tube, in this case, showed an irregular form with a wide base, making it look similar to an adenoid; thus, increasing the risk of it being misdiagnosed as residual adenoid tissue.

Gender potentially affects early postoperative hyponatremia in pituitary adenoma: XGBoost-based predictive modeling.

Purpose: The occurrence of hyponatremia is a prevalent complication following transnasal transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenoma surgery, which adversely affects patient prognosis, hospitalization duration, and rehospitalization risk. The primary objective of this study is to strengthen the correlation between clinical factors associated with pituitary adenoma and postoperative hyponatremia. Additionally, the study aims to develop a predictive model for postoperative hyponatremia in patients with pituitary adenoma, with the ultimate goal of establishing a basis for reducing the occurrence of postoperative hyponatremia following surgical interventions. Methods: The chi-square test or Fisher test was employed for nominal data, while the t-test or Mann-Whitney test was utilized for continuous data analysis. In cases where the data exhibited statistical differences, binary logistic analysis was conducted to examine the risk and protective factors associated with postoperative hyponatremia. XGBoost was employed to construct predictive models for hyponatremia in this study. The patients were partitioned into training and test sets, and the most suitable parameters were determined through five-fold cross-validation and subsequently utilized for training on the training set. The discriminatory capability was assessed on the internal validation set. Results and conclusions: Out of the total 280 patients included in this investigation, 82 patients experienced early postoperative hyponatremia. Among these individuals, male gender (P = 0.02, odds ratio = 1.98) was identified as a risk factor for early postoperative hyponatremia, while preoperative chloride levels (P = 0.021, odds ratio = 0.866) and surgery time (P = 0.039, odds ratio = 0.990) were identified as protective factors against postoperative hyponatremia. The XGBoost model exhibited a sensitivity of 94.2%, a specificity of 61.5%, a positive predictive value of 51.6%, a negative predictive value of 96%, and identified male gender, preoperative sodium, and preoperative cortisol as the most significant predictors. Our findings indicate that gender may have influence in the development of early postoperative hyponatremia in patients with pituitary adenomas.

Effects of brief mindfulness meditation training on attention and dispositional mindfulness in young adult males.

This study examined the impact of brief mindfulness meditation (BMM) training on attention function and dispositional mindfulness in young males. 126 male participants aged 18-26 from the security industry were recruited, with 66 participants (M = 22.84, SD = 2.41) undergoing 4-week mindfulness meditation training and 60 participants (M = 23.07, SD = 2.29) in the active control group. The intervention was integrated into the participants' schedules. Measures included Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaires (FFMQ), concentration and assignment attention tasks, Attention Network Test (ANT), and saliva cortisol concentration. Findings indicate that brief mindfulness meditation training led to significant improvements in participants' FFMQ scores), with marginally significant enhancements in the executive control network. However, it had no discernible effect on alertness and orientation networks. Additionally, brief mindfulness meditation training enhanced attention allocation to light stimulation and prolonged individual attention. Surprisingly, there was no observed decrease in saliva cortisol concentration among meditation training participants. However, this study did not find a decrease in saliva cortisol concentration in the brief mindfulness meditation group. In conclusion, this study highlights the potential of a 4-week brief mindfulness meditation training program to enhance dispositional mindfulness and specific aspects of attention function in young men, offering practical insights into the benefits of mindfulness meditation practices for this demographic.

Bulked Segregant RNA-Seq Reveals Different Gene Expression Patterns and Mutant Genes Associated with the Zigzag Pattern of Tea Plants (Camellia sinensis).

The unique zigzag-patterned tea plant is a rare germplasm resource. However, the molecular mechanism behind the formation of zigzag stems remains unclear. To address this, a BC1 genetic population of tea plants with zigzag stems was studied using histological observation and bulked segregant RNA-seq. The analysis revealed 1494 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the upright and zigzag stem groups. These DEGs may regulate the transduction and biosynthesis of plant hormones, and the effects on the phenylpropane biosynthesis pathways may cause the accumulation of lignin. Tissue sections further supported this finding, showing differences in cell wall thickness between upright and curved stems, potentially due to lignin accumulation. Additionally, 262 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across 38 genes were identified as key SNPs, and 5 genes related to zigzag stems were identified through homologous gene function annotation. Mutations in these genes may impact auxin distribution and content, resulting in the asymmetric development of vascular bundles in curved stems. In summary, we identified the key genes associated with the tortuous phenotype by using BSR-seq on a BC1 population to minimize genetic background noise.

Pulmonary Epstein-Barr virus-associated smooth muscle tumor after kidney transplantation: two case reports with review of differential diagnosis.

Pulmonary nodules are a common complication in solid organ transplant recipients, and may have various underlying causes, with Epstein-Barr virus-associated smooth muscle tumor (EBV-SMT) being one of them. Given the rarity of this entity, we describe the diagnosis and therapeutic interventions for post-transplant EBV-SMT in two individuals. Both cases involved female patients who were diagnosed with multiple pulmonary nodules 60 months and 116 months, respectively, after receiving living-related kidney transplantation. Pathological examination revealed a spindle cell tumor, with immunophenotype and EBV in situ hybridization supporting the diagnosis of EBV-SMT. After diagnosis, these two patients underwent intervention by decreasing their intake of immunosuppressants. As of the latest follow-up, the patients' lesion size remained stable, and their overall condition was favorable. We also reviewed literature about the morphological and molecular pathological features of EBV-SMT and highlighted the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of pulmonary spindle cell lesions especially in the setting of immunosuppression.